Look! Sliding Doors for a Secret Room

We've always had a soft spot for secret rooms...this is probably due to being fans of the original 70s spoofy spy television shows like Get Smart and The Avengers; or maybe it was all those field trips to Monticello back in grade school. Regardless, everyone knows that the real magic of a secret room is the entryway: a sliding bookcase, a swiveling fireplace, a moving wall...that element of surprise is key. So when we spotted these clever "doors" in this home featured in Australia's Inside Out magazine, we began hunting around for DIY ways to re-create the look...

Essentially, the doors in the photo are two huge canvases attached to a sliding track. Closed, they form one gigantic painting and hide the hallway and bedroom beyond. Not only is it visually appealing, but it also offers a sleek alternative to a traditional swinging door or French doors.

Want to re-create this look? We dug around in our archives and found this oldie but goodie from our very own Maxwell: How to Build Sliding Felt Doors--instead of felt, get two stretched canvases and paint them together before mounting the hangers to the top of each canvas panel.

If your space needs more storage, you could also use narrow bookcases as doors as well. Check out this secret room with a DIY sliding bookcase by Nicole over at Ikeahacker. Also, Rachael over at AT:DC showed off this secret bathroom at the Artists Residence Inn in Dupont Circle.

[ Photo from MidCentury Jo's Flickr ]

Comments (6)

I've wanted to do something like this for the longest, but I lack confidence. I'm not sure what to put over the doorway-- a plain door? Frosted glass? At first I wanted to find a metal frame door with art panels. I'd seen something similar on a couple of TV shows, but I haven't been able to find anything like it.

Anyone know where I can find a metal frame with space for art panels to be used as a door?

posted by taritac on March 2nd 2009 at 12:37pm
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They have doors at ikea now in which you can insert photos, aret, fabric, etc to create your own look. I don't know if that's what you meant...

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40104091

posted by mjr on March 2nd 2009 at 1:16pm
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Thanks, mjr, that's not exactly what I was looking for, but a similar idea. I actually would buy this version if it were big enough for my doorway.

posted by taritac on March 2nd 2009 at 1:40pm
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I've always dreamed of owning a rambling old Victorian in which I could install a wardrobe in front of a door, C.S. Lewis-style. I've also dreamed of owning an acre of land so I could have a pet capybara, but that's a whole other story.

posted by rosenatti on March 2nd 2009 at 1:49pm
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What's a capybara?????

posted by bobbin on March 2nd 2009 at 5:39pm
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Love the book-tower against the wall. Can anyone identify it?

posted by Molunat on March 2nd 2009 at 11:13pm
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